Autism: Appropriate Assessment is a MUST!

Typical students in general education programs are assessed using criterion-referenced tests such as chapter tests and unit tests to ensure skill acquisition……and they are assessed often! Teachers use these outcomes to monitor student progress, adjust student programming, and evaluate their own teaching procedures.

Our students in public school autism programs deserve the same.

Unfortunately, many of our students are not properly assessed or, worse, not assessed at all. The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is often the only measure used when creating daily programs. Using an inadequate assessment or no assessment at all can lead to a curriculum that is unbalanced and non-individualized. There can also be a heavy focus on unnecessary skills and/or inappropriate skills.

The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP), authored by Dr. Mark L. Sundberg, is a criterion-referenced assessment tool, curriculum guide, and skill-tracking system. It provides teachers and parents with an effective means of assessing the learning, language, and social skills of children with autism or other developmental disabilities.

Take a look at the VB-MAPP overview resource to learn more about this comprehensive assessment. You’ll be glad you did!

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“Recently, I reviewed a DVD series by Mr. Caffrey, and highly recommend that too! Again, I almost forgot it was a recording as when he speaks to an audience, you feel as if he is just having a talk with you over coffee.”

“It was very helpful for our teachers to actually see the principles and procedures being applied by an expert in the field. Many of these same teachers went on to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts”